As a junior surfer, Colapinto went viral in 2016 with an air-reverse to win a Qualifying Series heat at the Hawaii Pro.

He finished the year winning the Triple Crown in Hawaii and claimed the top spot in the Qualifying Series rankings.

At the 2018 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast he completed a triple-barrel and scored a perfect 10, and obtained a third-place finish.

[8][9] The fanfare also included a personal motivational speech from actor Matthew McConaughey, which gained traction on social media.

[14] Griffin and his brother Crosby Colapinto post surfing highlights to their YouTube channel, Cola Bros, which has gained a strong following.